High School News & Events

Are monsters real? Join us Sunday, Jan 20th at Fractal’s Coffee Shop in West Asheville for this original, modern adaptation of Homer’s epic tale of harrowing adventure. Experience what Odyssey High School students think are today’s “monsters” and glean from their wisdom on how to reckon with them.

In high school, Journey week is a time for students to acclimate to Odyssey’s unique style of integral and experiential education. We postpone academic classes for this week in order to build community through team-building activities, outdoor adventures, and deep reflection. In addition, journey week serves as an orientation for students. The week culminates in an overnight adventure trip that helps bond our community together and sets the high school up for a strong academic year. This year, the high school is traveling to Tennessee to go white water rafting on the Nolichucky River.

The Odyssey Creative Drama Collective are hard at work rehearsing the upcoming comedic play, Somebody/Nobody by Jane Martin. Come see the final product on Friday, April 27 at 7:30, Saturday, April 28 at 1:30 and 7:30 and also Sunday, April 29 at 2:30!

An intimate play setting has been created in Odyssey’s lower level, so seating is limited. Reservations are highly suggested. Please contact Melanie Wester for reservations!

This show is recommended for middle school ages and up.

Tickets are $12.00 for ages 22 and over, and $10.00 for ages 21 and under.

Student organizers, Bella Wells-Fried, 10th, and Kaiya Nilsson, 9th, led Odyssey 4th-12th grade students and area schools Hangar Hall and French Broad Academy, in a march from campus to Pack Square on Friday, April 20th. There they met with students from Asheville High, Asheville Middle, and Carolina Day School to gather in a peaceful protest for gun law reform.

When presented with the request to participate in this nationwide walk out, faculty and administration guided students through this learning experience in civic engagement. Students learned how to acquire permits for protest, wrote and distributed press releases, researched legislation, researched and brainstormed messaging for protest signs, and prepared for public speaking. They also sent a representative to our faculty meeting to receive feedback about how younger students, parents, and teachers will experience this day – incorporating empathy into the design-thinking process. One student’s Independent Research Project on the history of protest music this past fall prepared him well for his contribution that day.

Odyssey’s administration and faculty also spent class and meeting time preparing students to explore their viewpoints from multiple perspectives and aimed to create a safe space for differences in values and beliefs. Students who chose not to protest worked on studying legislation that inspired them and other strategies of civic engagement in democracy.

News Coverage of Asheville’s Student Protest

4th-12th Grade students will get an introduction to virtual design tools like Tilt Brush, a program that allows students to paint with fire, snow, smoke, and other incredible materials. Another program, developed for architectural design, will allow students to build and construct. This first demonstration aims to prepare students to engage real creativity and solutions in virtual spaces.

As virtual reality technology advances so does its potential application. In education, having a virtual reality resource means there are practically limitless methods for instruction. Better Than Unicorns, a firm which specializes in such immersive experiences, is offering students at Odyssey School a chance to explore art and design beyond any physical limitations.

We are excited to welcome and celebrate Odyssey elders on October 27th! This Fall Festival is a coming together of generations as we invite grandparents, or another special elder in our students’ lives, to join us in celebrating the coming autumn. Together, we find the beauty in changing leaves, cooler weather, longer nights, and the wisdom that follows a full spring and summer.

Elders will get to experience Integral Education, visit classrooms, enjoy a picnic lunch, and celebrate the changing of the seasons with us!

You are invited to join us on Saturday, September 30th, from 12:00-5:00! This party is brought to you by Odyssey’s Garden Committee, led by Chelsea Potter and Carrie Chisholm, and is sure to be a great time had by all.

On the evening of Wednesday, September 13th, Dr. Kelley Johnson will be offering an education night for parents who are interested in learning more about her 4th-12th grade curriculum for Sex Education at Odyssey.

We look forward to introducing you to Dr. Johnson to educate families, invite families into partnership in educating our students, and to answer any questions you might have! Dr. Johnson is offering this free evening event tonight at 6:30 for all interested Odyssey families.

We encourage you to attend to get more informed about the topics covered, strategies used, and professional approach Dr. Johnson takes in educating our students.

This year, high school students will spend 3 of their 5 Journey Week days in the woods!

Journey Week, the first week of school, is an amazing chance for our high school students & faculty to center as individuals and a community before diving into academics. During this week, we will set the tone for our year, engage in team building activities, set individual and collective goals, and go on a camping trip.

For our camping trip, we will leave school on Wednesday morning, August 30, and return to school by 3:35 on Friday, September 1. Our trip will include some long day hikes, wilderness skills, community building, and an introduction to our Experiential Seminar class.

Please let High School Director, Andrew Saldino know if you have any questions!

Please mark your calendars with this very important date! Parent Orientation is not a night to be missed, as so much valuable information is shared and connections are made. Start the year off right, earn volunteer hours for your attendance, and join us!

Here is some information that will likely be covered in your meetings:

How your child’s teacher incorporates Odyssey’s philosophy into his or her teaching

Listen to this incredible piece of music performed by Nadia (10th) and The Fates (pictured below), an Odyssey group of vocalists including Bella (11th), Natalie (12th), and Lexi (11th). You should also check out The Fates rendition of “Mexico,” Read More...

Student organizers, Bella Wells-Fried, 10th, and Kaiya Nilsson, 9th, led Odyssey 4th-12th grade students and area schools Hangar Hall and French Broad Academy, in a march from campus to Pack Square on Friday, April 20th. There they met with Read More...

During our Mini-Mester, a two week break from academic classes in which students dive into independent study and immersive collaborative projects, high school students worked in four teams to produce four unique films inspired by “The greatness of a Read More...

Get In Touch

If you have questions about Odyssey’s mission, community, or programs, please give us a call! You can also contact us to schedule a tour, meet our teachers, our directors, and visit our learning spaces.